Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Was the assassin's bullet fired tonight?

The Liberal Democrats in Wales rejecting to do deals with either Labour or Plaid and the Tories, has left Wales in political limbo. Will we see a Lab-Plaid informal coalition (or formal with any luck?) Or will Labour trot on in a minority government for a while, until something better for Wales can be sorted out (Lab-Lib, Plaid-Lab or other, since a minority government is not good for Wales) ? Or will Plaid and Tories try and go it alone with the sort of Trish Law (not at all likely, and electoral suicide for Plaid and Trish.)

However you have to wonder if tonight was the firing of the assassin's bullet at Mike German in the Liberal Democrats, otherwise why else would they want to turn down a deal with both Labour and Plaid+Tories? It makes little sense to me, since either way they would have seen Liberal Democrat policies on the table and put into action, and Liberal Democratic ministers around the cabinet table.

The argument about the Welsh people not wanting Labour nor the Tories, nor Plaid in government is mute, because the Welsh people want a government and a majority of them did vote for a majority government, be it Plaid-Lab, Lib-Lab, Rainbow or other. They do not want a minority Labour government, not even Labour members want that (at least ones with any sense), and they definitely do not want to see another election in a few weeks time, they would disastrous for the three main political parties (Labour, Plaid, Tories) and especially the Lib Dems (don't think they deserve to be called a main party after this), as well as devolution and Wales as a whole, it could even set back a referendum on further law making powers for a long time, and that would be a very Bad thing, since Wales needs more powers.

I feel this was internal Liberal Democrat politics, and if it is, the Welsh voters should not and hopefully will not forgive the Liberal Democrats too easy, and their reputation will be knocked for six. The Lib Dems will be damaged for this, but I fear the damage will leak over to all the other parties, especially Labour and Plaid Cymru.

This could be the biggest disaster to hit devolution, and it is now up to Labour and Plaid Cymru to sort something out fast and come to a face saving compromise for Labour, for Plaid and for Wales and Welsh devolution, or otherwise Wales will become a massive laughing stock and public opinion on devolution will drop like a stone, and that is something I don't think anyone in Welsh politics wants.

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7 Comments:

At 11:36 pm , Blogger Cwlcymro said...

If this was an assassins bullet, then Kirsty and Peter Black has shot the whole party to death in trying to get a shot at German.

The Lib Dems are dead. RIP.

 
At 2:46 pm , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have to agree with Guto. I voted LD in the election. I toyed with the idea of voting Plaid. I now regret not taking the leap. It will be Plaid from now on for me. Wales needs an alternative to Labour - the Lib Dems aren't it.

 
At 7:31 pm , Anonymous Anonymous said...

There are many in Labour who hate Wales - always have done.

 
At 12:48 am , Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 12:50 am , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Geraint are you still member of the Labour Party?

Why do you think that Plaid will do a deal with Labour. Did Labour offer them seats in the cabinet? If not, why not?

Geraint, you think because PC is a Democratic Socialist party that they would be your natural partner? That ain't so. Labour has always seen Plaid Cymru as a bit of a "dogs dinner" a unlikely alliance between utopian socialist (which Labour ain't) and "tory" nationalist.

You said on Blamer's now partisan blog. That Wales cannot be run by a minority government. You are right, but it has for most of the last 2 assembly's life.

Now they use Liberals as a scapegoat, for there own childish vendettas.

And what is Plaid Cymru? the so called Party of Wales. In some places Captain Beany beats them

 
At 2:46 pm , Blogger Geraint said...

Welsh Labour could co-operate with Plaid or the Liberal Democrats, however the Lib Dems are, at the moment, a bit of a mess in Wales.
The only choice for Labour is, at the moement, Plaid Cymru.

It is also very unhealthy for Welsh Labour to close the door on Plaid Cymru for any coalition, we need to have at least two options open, and they have to be the only other two progressive parties in the Assembly, Plaid (despite the rural Tory element) and the Liberals.

I think Labour should offer other parties cabinet seat (for Plaid and/or Liberals), however I do not think they will at the moment, both Labour and Plaid are hostile towards each other, over many issues, however they must be overcome, for the sake of the future of Wales and a healthy Welsh democracy and government.

 
At 11:41 pm , Anonymous Anonymous said...

The day that labour offers Plaid Cymru a seat in the Cabinet (possibly a seat in a cabinet) Napoleon will riding up Newport Road on a white stallion!

 

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